Dynamo get Cochrane, ship James to D.C. United

Club intends to brace back line with defender

Ryan Cochrane has seen limited action this season, starting twice for last-place San Jose.

Ryan Cochrane has seen limited action this season, starting twice for last-place San Jose.

Photo: CARLOS JAVIER SANCHEZ, For The Chronicle

Photo: CARLOS JAVIER SANCHEZ, For The Chronicle

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Ryan Cochrane has seen limited action this season, starting twice for last-place San Jose.

Ryan Cochrane has seen limited action this season, starting twice for last-place San Jose.

Photo: CARLOS JAVIER SANCHEZ, For The Chronicle

Dynamo get Cochrane, ship James to D.C. United

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After conceding an uncharacteristically high six goals over the past three games and with another tough stretch in the schedule staring them in the face, the Dynamo made it their priority this week to work on improving the defensive part of their game.

Ahead of tonight's Western Conference duel at Real Salt Lake, the team addressed the concerns the usual ways — with practice, a video session and plenty of talking.

But the personnel moves came Friday, with the Dynamo sending center back Julius James to D.C. United and acquiring defender Ryan Cochrane from San Jose in separate trades.

The Dynamo, tops in the MLS standings after winning two of their past three games, received a third-round pick in the 2012 MLS draft for James, 25, a second-year MLS player in his first season with the Dynamo, for whom he made eight appearances.

The team traded an international roster slot to San Jose for Cochrane, 26, an original Dynamo who went to San Jose — a move he requested — via the 2007 expansion draft. The Dynamo will get the international roster slot back at the end of next season, chief operating officer Chris Canetti said.

Cochrane has seen limited action this season, starting just twice for the Quakes.

“The good thing is that coming here, I only have to learn four or five players' names; everybody else I know pretty well,” Cochrane said.